Japan Engine Successfully Tests World's First Hydrogen-Fueled Main Engine for Commercial Vessel

Japan Engine Corporation and Kawasaki Heavy Industries have successfully conducted hydrogen co-firing operations on the 6UEC35LSGH, a full-scale, large, low-speed, two-stroke hydrogen-fueled engine designed for installation on commercial vessels. The engine achieved a hydrogen co-firing ratio exceeding 95% at 100% load during factory testing, confirming both greenhouse gas reduction and stable operational performance.

The development is part of a Green Innovation Fund Project supported by Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), conducted in collaboration with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, MOL Drybulk, Onomichi Dockyard, and Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK).

Unlike most existing hydrogen vessel initiatives—which focus on short-distance, low-output operations using compressed hydrogen—this project combines the high-efficiency engine with liquefied hydrogen fuel, enabling long-distance, high-output oceangoing operations. The engine is scheduled for shipment in January 2027 and will serve as the main propulsion system for a 17,500-DWT hydrogen-fueled multi-purpose vessel being built by Onomichi Dockyard.

Kawasaki is developing the Marine Hydrogen Fuel Supply System (MHFS) for the vessel. Following completion of verification testing, the vessel is scheduled to begin three years of demonstration operations in fiscal year 2028 under the operation of MOL and MOL Drybulk, with safety evaluations conducted throughout by ClassNK.

Originally reported by Hydrogen Central. Read the full article →